A study by the University of Pittsburgh and Microsoft on the usage of Windows Live Messenger in Europe has revealed that Spain has the highest proportion of +45-year-old users, nearly half of them chatting more than three hours a day! The study surveyed 10,000 users from nine European countries: Italy, Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, France, Germany, Sweden and Holland.

Of all respondents across Europe, 88 per cent stated that Windows Live Messenger helps keep families connected. The five family members with whom users have most contact are cousins (65%), siblings (36%), sisters (31%), aunts (22%) and uncles (20%). Nearly a third of the parents and two thirds of the "grandparents" (the oldest, unspecified age group) used instant messaging to chat about news, gossip and their personal life.

Europeans under 35 (defined as "young") are more likely to communicate with people of the same age, while those beyond that age tend to communicate more across various age groups (their children, cousins...).

The biggest user groups in Europe are Spaniards over the age of 45 and the "grandparents", with a penetration of 45 per cent and 30 per cent respectively. In total, 46 per cent of this generation use Windows Live Messenger for more than three hours a day, ahead of Italy with 41 per cent heavy users and France with 39 per cent.

Specifically in Spain, 94 per cent of the parents responded that Windows Live Messenger helps maintain contact between family members. Nine out of ten parents claim to have more communication with their children thanks to Messenger.

If Batman could use Windows Live Messenger to root out all evil in Gotham City, he would. But only after adding the superpowers of Messenger Plus! Live and applying the Dark Knight skin by Willz. The skin reshapes the Messenger client as if it were official Batman weaponry, and colors it darker than black. The skin was released in May, but for some reason I think it has become relevant again.

Details we have not, sorry, but LiveSino (via LiveSide) was told by a manager for Windows Live that Windows Live Messenger 9 -now in development for the second milestone- will have a new look and new features. Wait, did your heart just a miss a beat too?

Mary-Jo Foley on the other hand, quotes General Manager of Windows Live Brian Hall saying "Microsoft is planning to make the first test bits of software and services for the PC, Web and phone that are part of Windows Live Wave 3 available to folks outside the company as part of a private beta later this summer".

She also adds that she got a few hints from Hall that "an updated Windows Live Profile technology will be more tightly integrated with the next versions of Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger and other Windows Live services." No, it's not going to be another social network, it's more about "fusing the best of [Microsoft's] platform with other Live services."

Updated: eBuddy for iPhone & iPod Touchdwergs says ( 29 Jul 2008 ):

Just got a newsletter from eBuddy telling me they updated their one-year-old web-based Messenger client for the iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPod Touch.

The new version is supposed to have a smoother and easier interface, and allows iPhone 3G owners to add eBuddy to the home screen by selecting "Add to Home Screen" (duh) in Safari. As always, eBuddy is keen on feedback at feedback@ebuddy.com.

UPDATE: Thanks to Messer Bram for making us nine screenshots. Check out his gallery.

Three siblings have been added to the Spleak family, focused on games, style and television respectively. The Spleak bots now offer news bites or "tattles" on a total of six topics.

While they lack the more personal touch of "good old Spleak", there are two things I really like about these bots. Firstly, users are encouraged to contribute their own stories, opinions and polls related to the topics. This can be done via the bots or widgets on social networks and websites. For instance, one user of StyleSpleak suggested the concept of "robot models", so real models wouldn't have to starve themselves to look fabulous on the catwalk. Clever... or not? Users decide and rate.

Another thing I find useful are their often updated personal status messages that fill you in on the hottest topic of the day or an interesting thought contributed by a user. From just a quick glance at my contact list (see screenshot below) the status of GameSpleak informed about an upcoming Sega handheld gaming device. Maybe not as comprehensive as an RSS-feed but it keeps you in the loop of all kinds of trivia.